Daniel glances over to the restaurant, probably thinking about his lost dinner. “You can go back,” I tell him. “You don’t have to starve for my benefit.”
He looks doubtful. “Of course I do. I’m your brother. Besides, Dad’s credit card can handle a room service charge. I was hoping for lobster.”
I laugh, and Daniel and I walk toward the elevators. “Please come to the rooftop tonight?” I ask. “I don’t want to meet people by myself.” I’m not nearly as sociable as Daniel. I’ve learned to operate within the buffer of his charisma, avoiding the main focus so I can choose my words. Be funny. Now I’ll have to work on the spot.
“What about that cute girl from housekeeping?” Daniel asks, pressing the button for the elevator. The doors open immediately. “You two were getting along famously. Besides, Aud. I wasn’t invited, remember?”
“You’re just mad she didn’t fall all over you.”
“A little,” he allows. “But it’s only Wednesday.” He winks, and I push his shoulder, my tension faded. Even with tonight’s emotional hiccup, I’ve been having fun. I can’t remember the last time that happened.
The elevator stops on his floor. “You always have plans,” I tell Daniel, still hoping he’ll change his mind about the roof. He walks out and shrugs apologetically.
“I’m very personable. It’s a gift and a curse.”
“Uh-huh.”
He chuckles and heads down the hallway toward his room. I sigh, my shoulder against the elevator wall. Daniel’s pursuits are wasted on Catherine, in my opinion, but I’m not going to bring it up. He seems happy with her, and more than anything I just want to see my family happy again.
It’s just after sunset when I follow Lourdes through the metal door onto the roof. The air is warm, humidity sticking to my skin. The music is low and haunting—the slow scratch of violins, an echo of a voice singing. One of the servers from the ballroom walks by and presses a cold bottle into my hand. He’s dressed in a white T-shirt and black pants. His hair is no longer slicked to the side, but spiked out and shaggy around his ears. He winks at Lourdes.
“Welcome back, gorgeous,” he says. Lourdes flashes him a smile and spins dramatically to watch him walk away. It’s flirtatious but playful. Jokey in a way you can only be with your close friends.
“Everyone’s really happy to see you,” I say, taking a sip of my beer. “How long have you been gone?”
Lourdes slides her gaze in my direction. “A while. I was suspended.” I mouth an “Oh,” but she laughs. “It wasn’t anything illegal,” she explains. “Kenneth and I just have a difference of opinion.”
“I can imagine,” I say. “He seems like he’d be a terrible boss.”
“You have no idea.”
I glance around the roof and find the server who handed me the drink. He joins another guy, and they climb onto the edge of the roof, their legs dangling over the side. I point them out to Lourdes. “Isn’t that dangerous?”
“Yep. That’s why they do it. In case you haven’t noticed,” she says, motioning around us. “Most everything fun is dangerous. I’m sure Eli has told you as much.”
My heart rate spikes at his name, and I turn to her. “I don’t really know him that well.”
She laughs. “You will—it’s Elias. We’ve all fallen in love with him at some point or another.” She leans in like she’s telling me a secret. “Our lot has been together for a while, Audrey. It’s about time we had someone new to stir things up. I am truly torn about your entire situation.”
“My situation?”
“You’re leaving soon,” she says, taking my drink to sip from it. “But part of me wants you to stay at the Ruby.” She hands back my bottle. “Now come meet my friends.”
Lourdes starts toward the group sitting on a row of metal cylinders near the wall, laughing and causal in the fact that they do this all the time. I guess if there’s a party every night, one you’re not invited to, this is a pretty cool alternative. There’s an older guy about halfway across the roof wearing a green army jacket, even though the weather has grown muggy. His head is shaved and he’s handsome, and he grins the minute Lourdes and I get within three feet of the group.
“Ah . . .” he says, putting his boot up on a crate, blocking our path. “It’s about damn time,” he says with a slow drawl. “This place has been torment without you.” He darts a look at me. “Now what do we have here? I don’t believe you’re supposed to bring guests to the roof, Miss Fuller. Is she an exception? What would Kenneth say?”
“I don’t really give a shit what Kenneth thinks,” Lourdes says sweetly, reaching to run her fingers over his arm. “Besides, Jerome, he’s not the boss of her.” Her smile fades. “Or me.”
Jerome lowers his boot from the crate. “He’d beg to differ. But you know I have a soft spot for you.” He waves us past. “Have fun, darlin’,” he tells me.